Coyote brush

Baccharis pilularis

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Description

Coyote brush is one of our most widespread and variable native evergreen shrubs found growing on the coastal plains and foothills from northern to southern California. Throughout this territory, there are many naturally occurring differences in foliage character and growth habit; some plants can grow to 12 ft. tall, while others that are exposed to coastal winds grow into prostrate forms 2-3 ft. high, spreading 6-8 ft. across.

Coyote brush has bright green leaves, to 1/2 in. long, and have undulating to randomly toothed margins. Flowers are insignificant, but seed pappus on female plants can be heavy and distracting in garden plantings. Most of the naturally occurring forms of this plant are usually planted in revegetation projects where they are grown from seed. Several prostrate forms such as B. p. 'Pigeon Point' are popular as slope plants in residential and commercial landscapes.

Water Needs

Coyote brush is well adapted to all parts of the Inland Empire with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months marked by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; more supplemental water commonly results in a longer growing season and larger mature sizes.

Maintenance

Prune by heading back as much of the new-ish growth as desired in May or cut back as needed mid-winter (January - February) prior to spring growth (1). Every number of years, if looking like it needs to be reinvigorated, Baccharis can be "coppiced" by cutting all the way to the ground to promote new shoots and full regrowth (2). Coyote brush is adaptable to pruning. It can be cut back or sheared like a hedge to promote a denser plant. With some work most Baccharis pilularis or pilularis hybrids can be maintained as a formal hedge (3).